What happens on that day that you come home from work and don’t feel like it? Believe it or not, we can all have those times. Now, there may be some folks who don’t. But I have had days where I find I have to give myself a boost to meditate.
Well, I like to use my senses. When I am stressed, when I am overwhelmed, or just processing a lot, I take a mindful moment. I find that helps me get back to that meditation mindset. By that I mean the willingness to come back to my practice. The senses I indulge are sound, scent, and touch.
How do I use these senses to get ready to meditate?
Sense of Sound:
I will play a favorite song that has meaning. I try to pick a song with uplifting lyrics. I might pick a song that has deep metaphors. Sometimes I listen to chants, mantras. I find the simple act of sitting down, and just listening has an affect on me. I will sing along or chant along. Doing so distracts me from the concerns of the day. I find I then start focusing on the lyrics, meaning, or the melody. It raises my mood and raises my vibration.
Much like an object of focus, and sticking with the practice, this takes my mind from the external concern and helps me to focus inward. I begin to let go and enjoy the moment. I will play as many chants or songs as needed until I feel ready to meditate.
But there are days that I really am stressed and really do have other things to do after meditation, so what then? Well, I don’t try hard. I use what I like to call shorthand. For me, shorthand is a singing bowl. I have singing bowls of various sizes around my home. I will go up to one and I either strike it three times or let it ring out by using the hammer on the rim of the bowl. When I strike it three times, I allow space between each strike. I concentrate on the sound until the vibration of the sound has completed. I then strike again, pausing, listening, and then strike the third time. The other way I use the bowl is to run the hammer around the rim of the bowl. For those of you that have done this, you know that it makes a particular sound. As you continue the circle around the bowl, the sound waves reverberate one after the other. I find these waves of sound very calming.
Sense of Scent:
Scent is not an object of focus during meditation. It is too transitory, too fleeting to gently keep our attention. However, when I need to get into my meditation mindset, I find that scent fits the bill. I like to use candles or essential oils. I take my time, picking a candle or scent that feels right. I find this process is again a way to bring to the present, releasing the day.
Sometimes the freshness of a citrus scent brings the joy I need to add. Other times, the depth of a sandalwood oil blend grounds me into the now. When I’m not sure, I often default to a rose essential oil scented candle or a rose essential oil blend from the Lokelani Maui rose immediately brings me there.
Once I have picked the scent, I take a moment to deeply inhale the fragrance. I really allow the scent to fill my senses. If a flower, I picture that flower. If citrus, I imagine that fruit. For sandalwood, or earthier scents, I let my mind imagine pictures that match the scent. Then if using a candle, I will light it. If an essential oil, I will apply some.
Sense of Touch:
I have many crystals around my home and I also have a few different rosaries and mala beads. Sometimes, I find going and selecting one of those objects helps me to reset. Now, I use the mala beads in my meditation. However, taking that time before my meditation to just hold my mala beads reminds me of my practice. I notice the color of the mala beads, the shape, the texture. Again, being mindful of the object of my focus, and really noticing the details of that object.
Other times, I use one of my crystals. Clear quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst are favorites of mine. Ok, truth be told, I have many favorites. I will sit in my chair, just holding my crystal. I will allow myself to notice the details of the crystal. How it feels, what the shape is, where it is smooth or where it is rough. By this simple act of mindfulness, I notice that the resistance often fades. Especially when I hold a clear quartz, amethyst, or rose quartz, it’s as though my mind says “ah, yes, time to meditate”.
These are touchstones I use to get me in that meditation mindset. It brings me to that willingness to engage in my practice.
By mindfully engaging my senses, I bring my awareness from the external cares of the day to my meditation practice. I am reminded of the calm I feel with my consistent meditation. I am kind to myself. Rather than beat myself up for not wanting to meditate, I give myself an indulge the senses time out.
I know from every day practice, that meditation helps me to remain calmer in an ever changing world. I crave the going within that I get from my radical act of love, which is my quiet time of meditation. But on the days, when my day wants to distract me from my healthiest craving, my act of self-care and love, I come to my senses. Sogyal Rinpoche said “meditation is bringing the mind home”. May you enjoy coming home, and when you’re not sure you want to come home, first, come to your senses.
